Workmen's advocate., 1887-02-26
PERTINENT ADVICE,
Extracts from "Tim0thy Titcomb's
 Letters 10 the NOung."

Letters 10 the Young"
 The first great lesson young man should learn is that he knows nothing: and the earlier and more thoroughly this lesson is learned, the better it will be for his peace of mlnd and his success in life. A young man, bred at home, and grow ing up in the light of parental admira- tion and fraternal pride, cannot readily understand how it is that everyone else can be his equal in talent and acquisi- tlOn. If, bred in the country, he seeks the life of the town, he will very early obtain an idea of his insigniicance. After putting on airs and getting severely laughed at, going into bright and faCie society and finding himself awkward and tongrc-ted, undertaking to speak in some public place and breaking down, he will be apt to sit down in state "bordering on distraction" to reason about it.
 This is a critical period in his history. The result of his reasoning will decide his fate. If at this time he thoroughly comprehend, and in his soul admit and accept the fact that he knows nothing; if he bow to the conviction that his mind and his person are but ciphers among the significant and cleanly cut figures about him, and that whatever he is to be must be achieved by hard work, there is abundant hope for him. If, on the con trary, huge self-cOnceit still hold possession of him, and he straighten stilly up to the assertion of his old and valueless self, he might as well be n dead man.
 When young man has thoroughly comptehende1 the fact that he knows nothing, and that, intrinsically, he is of but little value, the next thing for him to learn is that the world cares nothing for him; that he is the subject of no mans overwhelming admiration and esteem; that he must take care of himself A letter of introduction may possibly pro- cure for him an invitation to tea If he wear good hat, and tie his cravat with propriety, the sexton will show him to pleasant seat in the church, and expect him to contribute liberally when the plate goes round If he be a stranger, he will find every man busy with his own affairs, and none to look after him. He will not be noticed until he becomes noticeable; he will not become notice able until he does something to prove that he has an absolute value in society. No letter of recommendation will give him this, or ought to give him this. No family connection will give him this, eX- cept among those few who think more of blood than brains.
 Society demands that man shall be somebody, not only, but that he shall prove his right to the ttle and 1t has a right to demand this Society tS HOt rely pdittculor Uhot moH does, so tbot 4 prOre Mm tO be d moH; then it will bow to him and make room for him.
 l know young man who made place for himself by writing an article for the North ImeTican RerieW: nobody read the article, so far as l know, but the fact that he wrote such an article, that it was very long, and that it was published, did the buStHeSs for him.
 Everybody, however, cannot write articles for the North AUericdR Rerie'r-- at least: hope everybody will not, for it is publication which makes me a quar- terly visit; but every body, who is some body, can do something.
 There is a wide range of effort be- tween holding skein of silk for lady and saving her from drowning-between collecting voters on election day and